Suddenly, it's all happening at Middleton

NEW shops and property investors have descended on Middleton. The unassuming north Manchester suburb has become the focus for a sudden rush of property deals as the city's property market continues to boil.

NEW shops and property investors have descended on Middleton. The unassuming north Manchester suburb has become the focus for a sudden rush of property deals as the city's property market continues to boil.

Agora Shopping Centres has announced three new tenants at Middleton Shopping Centre. The deals come as construction work on a 45,000-sq ft extension gets under way.

Fashion retailer Peacocks, Streetwise Sports and current tenant Quality Save have signed up for new units in the extension, which is set to complete next summer.

Michael Stevens, operations director at Warner Estate Holdings, which manages Middleton Shopping Centre on behalf of Agora, said: "We are delighted to be able to introduce brand new national retailers through the modernisation and extension of the centre, strengthening the future of Middleton. With the addition of these stores we will be in an even better position to compete with towns like Bury and Rochdale."

Elsewhere in the centre, Wilkinsons has expanded threefold to trade over two floors in a total space of 33,000 sq ft. Mark One fashions has relocated to a new 4,125-sq ft ground floor unit.

Current tenants at the 248,000-sq ft Middleton Shopping Centre also include Tesco, WH Smith, New Look, Argos and Boots.

In a separate move investors have swooped on the Middleton Trade Park, paying more than £2m.

Investment specialists at leading agent Knight Frank sold the trade park on behalf of owner Danesborough Properties, a London-based investment company, to City Lands, represented by WHR. The initial yield is 6.87 per cent.

National and local names are already tenants, including Nationwide Autocentres, City Electrical Factors and Central Tyres.